U.P. Football All-Star Game gives back to programs, charities

July 2, 2013

MARQUETTE - The football programs at L'Anse and Newberry high schools will receive donations from the Upper Peninsula Football All-Star Game held Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette.

The Purple Hornets and Indians each receive $1,000 to be used for anything that benefits football at their schools after they were chosen at random.

But they are just the two most prominent donations made from the game.

Article Photos

Hancock’s Ross Michaels looks for room to run with the ball for the West during the U.P. All-Star Football Game on Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Journal photo by Adelle Whitefoot)

"When this game was started, it was always a goal that we would eventually be able to donate directly to all of the high school football programs throughout the U.P.," Xcel president Todd Goldbeck said.

"Every program is eligible, and it does not matter how successful the team is. Everyone has a chance and gets a turn.

"I was very pleased to hear that both schools that were chosen have specific plans for the donations."

The standard donation has been $1,000, and the number of schools receiving this amount depends on proceeds from the game.

In addition, the East and West All-Star head coaches split the footballs used during the week leading up to the game. This year there were 36, so Ishpeming and North Dickinson each receive 18 footballs.

And practice jerseys are donated to programs, this year to Westwood and St. Ignace. Since they only have numbers on them, the schools could decide to put their team name on them for possible use in games.

More than 800 pounds of food will be donated to the Beacon House food pantry, while cash donations will go to the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame and Bay Cliff Health Camp. Proceeds from a 50-50 raffle were split between the Ishpeming Booster Club, which helped run the raffle, and Bay Cliff.

Organizers also announced that next year's game is scheduled for June 28, 2014.